Page 24 of The Lawyer's Quandary
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be there. I was asked to attend by the college. They, of course, have a tribunal at these things. It isn’t just the provost. They take these things seriously.”
”And yet they tell Steven to come alone.” What nerve. It truly sounded like everything was stacked in their favor.
“I’m only there as a witness to what is done and said. It’s for the benefit of the students as well as the college. So don’t worry about me. Just keep my name out of it, and it should be fine.”
Greg pulled away. “Okay. I just don’t want you caught in the crossfire.” He wanted Mark to be happy and secure at work. He shouldn’t have to pay for doing the right thing. “But what I’m really hoping is that the statements we have and the video will do the talking for themselves.” He was exhausted and had a huge day tomorrow.
“Are you hungry?” Mark asked, and didn’t wait for an answer. Greg sat on the sofa, and Mark hurried the kitchen. Greg leaned back and closed his eyes until Mark returned with a glass of ice water and a sandwich. He ate without talking and drank the water. Mark returned the dishes to the kitchen and took himby the hand, leading him upstairs, turning out the lights as they went.
“Are yousure everything is going to be all right?” Steven’s mother, Rachel, asked in a tone that almost made Greg flinch.
“I believe so, yes. But I am going warn you, some things discussed and showed today will be upsetting. But Steven did what he felt was right, and you should be proud of him for that. He made his own decisions, and it will benefit not only him, but others as well.”
“What will happen?” she asked, and Steven swallowed hard, clearly nervous.
“We’ll see what cards they hold and then beat them by a mile.” He set his bag on top of the desk in the small room. “We have two goals for today. First, to take Bates down, and we’ll do that. But second, I want to try to find out what they know. Have they been made aware of this sleaze? Did they cover anything up? I want them to show their hand as much as possible, and the best way for that to happen is for them to do as much talking as possible. Your job is to be a tiger in Steven’s corner.”
“But keep quiet,” she added, clearly not happy. Greg got the idea that she liked to be the one to do the talking.
“As much as possible. Ask questions if you’d like, but keep them talking and watch for any telltale signs. If they know of Bates’s past, then we can go after them for every record and email they have going back years. We can scour their finances for payments… you name it. If they knew, we will make them pay. But that’s down the road.”
Rachel nodded. “Okay. Today we take him down. I get that. But what do you have planned?” She really seemed to be getting into this, and it seemed to calm Steven, which was good.
“Let’s see how things play out.” He checked the time. They still had about fifteen minutes before they needed to walk over. “You know that Mark has been requested to be there by the college. He’s a witness only.”
Steven and his mother both nodded. “I’m not going to give him away, and neither is she. He believed me, and he helped us.”
They sat quietly for a while until it was time to go. Greg let Steven lead the way to where the note he’d received said he was supposed to be.
“Mr. Strickler,” a man Greg didn’t know said, meeting them outside the room. “I’m John Graves, the college provost.” He did not seem happy. “I believe you were instructed to come alone.”
“Say nothing.” Greg turned to the provost. “I’m Greg Lampeter, Mr. Strickler’s attorney, and he will attend nothing without me and his parent present.” He stared down the older man. “Now, shall we get started?” He held his expression as bland as possible.
“I see. This is unusual….” He took a step aside, and they all walked into the room with a large, polished table and comfortable chairs. This was something he understood, a projection of strength and control. Greg had Steven and his mother sit, and he took the chair next to Steven, while Mark, the provost, and Bates all took chairs across the table. “This is a session to ascertain the facts regarding an incident in Coach Bates’s office.” He folded his hands on the table. “Coach Bates has reported that while he was taping your ankle in preparation for practice, you struck him. As you know, this is a very serious offense.”
Steven opened his mouth, but Greg stepped in. “My client will admit to nothing and confirm nothing,” Greg said. “However, if my client did strike Coach Bates—and I stressif—then he was provoked.”
“I was taping his ankle,” Bates said forcefully.
Mark flinched slightly, and even the provost blinked at the vehemence of his reaction.
“I see. Is that all you were doing?” Greg asked, watching the provost carefully.
“We are not here to make baseless accusations,” the provost said, and for a second, Greg wondered if this was part of a college cover up.
Greg opened his bag. “They are not baseless. I have five signed and notarized statements, including one from Steven, detailing inappropriate behavior by Coach Bates over the last three months.” He set the papers on the table. “These are all players on his teams who have come forward with similar claims against him.” He pulled out his iPad and set it on the table. “This is video that I have obtained of the so-called incident in Coach Bates’s office.” He brought up the enhanced view. “And I want to know when taping an ankle involves groping a player, forcing him against the chair, and kissing him?” he asked, filling the room with his voice. “So if Steven did strike Coach Bates, he was fully justified in warding off a predator.”
The provost was shocked and sat with his mouth open, eyes bulging. Finally, he reached for the iPad. It was pretty clear that this was a total shock, which told Greg some of what he wanted to know about what the college might have been aware of. Greg let him watch the video again. “Coach Bates, you are suspended until a full investigation is completed. You are not to return to the college until we have completed the investigation.” He set down the iPad. “Thank you. We will deal with this.” He stood, but Greg shook his head.
“I don’t know what world you live in, but this is not for you to handle or to decide what is going to happen.” Greg patted the table for emphasis, and he sat down again. “I want to make it clear that Steven is blameless and that he is free to return to class without a blemish on his record. Am I clear?”
“Yes. Judging by what I saw, his actions were justified. He was only defending himself.” He blinked and then released a breath. “Is there anything else?”
“Actually, there is. You see, copies of these reports, as well as the video, were sent to the Adams County district attorney, and he along with the police, issued a warrant for Bates’s arrest about an hour ago. Steven, please open the door.” Greg turned back to Bates, watching as a police officer entered the room, cuffed him, and read him his rights.
“Are the handcuffs really necessary?” the provost asked.
“Actually, they are, and he is to be cuffed,” Greg told the officer. “Rumors have been circulating through the college, and now when he is taken out in cuffs, there will be no doubt as to who should be believed. Coach Bates is a predator, and predators deserve to be behind bars.” He waited while Bates was escorted from the room, but Greg didn’t stand.
